RI-PHILIPPINE BORDER SECURITY TO BE STEPPED UP

Palu, Sept 7 (ANTARA) - Security in the territorial waters between Indonesia and the Philippines will be stepped up by increasing the number of fast patrol boats there.

To increase border security between the two countries, the National Defense Forces (TNI) will send more patrol boats to the border, TNI Chief Gen Djoko Santoso said here on Monday.

"We will soon increase the number of fast patrol boats in the waters between Indonesia and the Philippines," the TNI chief said on the sidelines of his working visit to Central Sulawesi and Maluku.

Djoko Santoso said the dispatch of the fast patrol boats would started early next year.

"We want to procure around 100 new patrol boats and about half of them will be deployed in the waters bordering Indonesia and the Philippines in 2010," Djoko Santoso said.

Commenting on the TNI and Philippine Armed Forces cooperation to ensure security in these waters, Djoko Santoso said it had been running quite well.

"We have a Joint Border Committee (JBC) to discuss various issues related to the two countries' border, including territorial waters security and joint patrols," Djoko Santoso said.

Meanwhile, Wirabuana Military Commander May Gen Djoko Susilo said the security situation in the border between Indonesia and the Philippines was conducive.

"There is no problem in the border security. Everything runs normal and under control because the patrol elements are working according to procedures which have been set and agreed on by both sides," Susilo said.

He said the border between Indonesia and the Philippines is prone to smuggling and terrorism, and therefore border security should be doubled.